A poster for “Student Expressions: An Exploration of Mediums”

NEW ULM — The Grand Center for Arts and Culture is set to host an opening reception Friday in the Four Pillars Gallery for its new exhibit “Student Expressions: An Exploration of Mediums.”

The exhibit features artwork encompassing a variety of mediums and includes work from New Ulm High School graduates Emma Maudal, Norensa Ness, Lucy Sletta and more from high school art teacher Bridget Gusso’s classes.

Gusso said the graduates’ artwork was created throughout the 2018-2019 school year in a “student-driven course” that had students writing up their own course curriculum.

“This is the first year we’re doing it,” Gusso said. “Sometimes we have an advanced art class, but this year there wasn’t actually a class.”

Gusso said the school will offer more of the advanced or independent study classes next school year.

“They can take an independent course and part of their responsibilities is writing up the curriculum they want to do for the semester,” she said.

Maudal, Ness and Sletta each took the independent, student-driven classes under Gusso’s direction. She said next year the high school will also offer an art course where students spend the whole year preparing for the shows such as this Friday’s at The Grand.

“There are a lot of avenues in the community that people aren’t aware of,” Gusso said. “There are a lot of artists in New Ulm that people aren’t aware of either.”

The opening reception for “Student Expressions: An Exploration of Mediums” is 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in the Four Pillars Gallery. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Gage Cureton can be emailed at gcureton@nujournal.com.